Switch protector



, Oct. 28, 1941. J. F. KING SWITCH PROTECTOR Filed Jan. 27; 1940 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 28, 1941. J. F. KING 2,260,675

SWITCH PROTECTOR Filed Jan. 27, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I g] WW (7472263 fh dfi'i M 76511:

Patented Oct. 28, 1941 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE 'swr'ron rno'rnogrojn' James F. King, Little m r Application January 27, 1940, ean 316,042 (01146- 448) '1 2 Claims.

This invention relates to railway switches and more particularly to safety means therefor, and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It is the cardinal purpose of the invention to provide a safety device for manually or otherwise operated switches wherein a switch can only be deliberately operated for the purpose of switching a train.

It is also an object of, the invention to provide a switch protecting device in which the operative parts may only be actuated after unlocking of the switch point.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means preventing accidental throwing of the customary switch, inasmuch as the protector will prevent operation of the switch until purposely released.

It is a still further object of theinvention to provide a switch protector which will prevent the switch points from spreading, thereby avoiding possible derailment of a train.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a protector wherein it is difficult to spike the switch points.

And finally, it is an object of the invention to provide signal means cooperable with the switch in either of its positions to indicate to the engineer the set position of the switch.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of track, switch'and my protector device installed.

Figure 2 is a. detail perspective of the main operating parts of the protector.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the switch with parts of the protective casing of my device in section showing the relative position of the parts.

Figure 4 is a transverse cross section through my protector.

Figure 5 is a cross section on the line Figure 4.

Attention is first invited to Figure 1 of the drawings, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, there is shown a main trackway In with which there is associated a switch line H, embodying the usual switch points l2 and I2 cooperable with the main line ID as is generally understood, and since this structure is well understood, no detailed explanation thereof is believed necessary.

The switch points l2 and I2 are actuated by a trainman, in the present instance, a low standtype being illustrated, although the high stand type is susceptible to the same use, and since this'is of no consequence to the operation of my protector, description thereof will not be dealt within detail. In either event, the switch sets the switch points to direct the train along a definite course.

The main operative parts of my protector are shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, and reference is now made to these figures.

' A tie M of the road-bed is employed, and upon the upper face thereof, I provide a pair of guide brackets or bearings l5, aligned longitudinally of the rail upon a base plate 16 fixed securely to the rail, adapted to guide a rod ll toward and from the switch point l2 through mechanism presently to be described.

ordinarily through a switch l3 manually thrown 28, and the cranks 20, as

The forward end of the rod I! has a broadened head l8 for contacting engagement with the switch point 12' at times, and the rear portion of; the rod l1 is-provided with integral laterally extended rods I9 having crank portions 20 disposed upon opposite sides of the rail M. In order to relievestrain upon the rods IS, a brace rod'2l is provided, integrally formed with the crank and, extended rearwardly and engaged with the. rear portion of the rod I1.

. An operating lever 22 is rockably mounted upon thetie M, as will now be described. A pair of mounting plates 23 are fixed upon the tie l4, suitably spaced, the upper portions of the plates being ribbed or corrugated, as at 24. Upon these plates 24 a bearing 25 is associated, each bearing having, a foot portion corrugated or ribbed and complemental to the corrugations of the mounting. plate. Obviously, the corrugations ofthe plates'and bearings permit ready adjustment longitudinally of the bearings with respect to the plates to compensate for wear or other adjustment.

The lever 22 has a pair of cranks 26 positioned upon opposite sides of the tie l4 and each includes a trunnion 21 for pivotal connection of a draw rod 28. The other ends of respective draw rods 28 are connected, pivotally, to respective cranks 20.

The lever 22 has integrally formed therewith a hand lever 29 for actuating the cranks 21, rod will be explained in the operation of the device. The lever 29 is slotted adjacent its free end, as at 30, to receive a hasp 3|, the latter receiving a suitable lock 32 for locking the lever against unauthorized movement.

\ In order to protect the parts against weather,

a casing 33 is provided covering the main portions of the rod l1 and its immediate operating mechanism, and a casing 34 encloses the lever 22 and its operating mechanism, and this latter casing preferably includes a hinged lid 35 permitting access to the lever 22 for operation of the protecting device. The casings 33 and 34 may be secured to the tie M in any approved manner, and in the present instance, I have illustrated flanges 36 to which the casings may be riveted or otherwise secured. The casing 33 is, of course, provided with an opening 3! through which the rod I! may reciprocate.

In order that visual indication of the position of the switch may be given an engineer of a train, I provide an indicator generally designated by the reference numeral 38. The indicator 38 comprises an upright support rod 39 rigidly fixed to the rod I1, the upper end of which carries a frame structure 40 for mounting of a green reflector lens 4| and a red reflector lens 42. The

rod 35 projects through a slot 43 formed in the upper wall of the casing 33, the slot extending longitudinally in the plane of reciprocation of the rod H. The lenses 4| and 42 are arranged in tandem fashion so that they will be alternately exposed beyond a shutter casing 44 which is suitably mounted upon the casing 33. The casing 44 is approximately one-half of the length of the combined length of the lenses, so that one or the other of the lenses must be exposed to view, this depending upon the position of the rod I! of the protector device, that is to say, if the switch is closed as in Figure 1, the green lens will be exposed, and if the switch is open, the red lens will be in view, the green lens being concealed by the housing M.

The operation The operation will be readily understood from the following description, it being asumed that the switch is closed as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the protector device being in locked position. It will be apparent that the stand switch I3 cannot operate the switch points [2 and I2 since the rod l1 and its head abut the switch point I 2', preventing movement thereof. Therefore, it will be necessary for the trackman to raise the lid 35, unlock the lock 32 and raisethe lever 29. When the lever 29 is raised a backward movement is imparted to the rod I! by reason of the rearward movement of the pull rods 28 and their connection with the crank members 20. The stand switch l3 may now be operated to open the switch. At the outset, the green lens was exposed, to view, but upon rearward sliding movement of the rod ll, the lens was moved into the housing 44 and the red lens will now be exposed to view, indicating an open switch, appraising an engineer of a train of the fact. When it is desired to return the switch to closed position, the switch I3 is operated as is customary, and the lever 29 moved to its lowered position. Under such movement the rod I1 is moved toward the switch point until the head l8 comes to forcible rest thereagainst, when the lock 32 is engaged in the hasp and the lid 35 is then closed. The green lens will now be exposed indicating a closed switch.

While I have specifically shown and described a preferred construction, this is by way of illustration only, and I consider as my own all such modifications in structure as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway switch, the combination of a transverse tie for support of the switch and means to operate the switch to open or closed positions, a plate on the tie having. bearings spaced longitudinally thereof, a rod reciprocably mounted in the bearings, said rod having lateral extensions adjacent one end and a broadened head at the othenbrace rods extending from the extensions. to the end of the rod, said extensions h ving respective crank portions disposed upon the sides of the :tie, a pair of bearings on the tie outwardly of the switch, a shaft rockably mounted in said bearing and having a pair of cranks, one disposed upon respective sides of the tie, a lever connecting the cranks on respective sides of the tie, said shaft having an operating handle whereby to rock said shaft, and a lock for the operating handle.

2. In a railway switch, the combination of a transverse tie for support of the switch and means to. operate the switch to open or closed positions, a plate on the tie having bearings spaced longitudinally thereof, a rod reciprocably mounted in the bearings, said rod having lateral extensions adjacent one end and a broadened head at the other, brace rods extending from the extensions to the end of the rod, said extensions having respective crank portions disposed upon the sides of the tie, a pair of hearings on the tie outwardly of the switch, a shaft rockably mounted in said bearings and having a pair of cranks, one disposed upon respective sides of the tie, a lever connecting the cranks on respective .t sides of the tie, said shaft having an operating handle whereby to rock the shaft, a housing enclosing the cranksand levers, said housing having aslot in its upper wall and extending longitudinally. thereof, a vertical shaft carried by said reciprocable rod and extended through the slot, and signal means carried by the shaft outwardly of the housing.

JAMES F. KING. 

